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Hubbell Farmer Internship
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site has been working on developing a sustainable, organic farm for the last three years. Responsibilities have expanded to the point that park staff can no longer take care of the farm. They are looking for an available farmer for the upcoming season. They have approximately 10 acres in hay/pasture grass, a large kitchen garden, horses, chickens, goats and churro sheep, and will be replanting historic varieties of fruit trees this spring. They are looking for someone who can not only help with the day to day work, but can supervise local youth working on the farm; provide recommendations to the superintendent on irrigation, planting and harvesting crops; and can develop and begin implementation of a business plan for a sustainable farm.
Last summer they cut and baled their hay to feed the livestock over the winter. They currently send fleece from our sheep to a mill to be cleaned, carded and spun. It is then sold in the trading post as a value added product. They are interested in other value added products as a way to become self-sufficient. Hosting a local farmer's market has come to mind as another marketing effort they are interested in exploring. Thus, in addition they would like their farmer to share his or her knowledge with the visiting public and the local community. Please contact Anne Worthington at 928.755.3475 if you are interested or have questions.
Examples of Responsibilities:
Planning
- Review existing farm plan
- Determine planting/plowing schedule for next 5 yrs
- Determine winter feed requirements for horses & sheep
- Develop a business plan that addresses following alternatives:
- Carrying capacity of the fields under different scenarios
- How many sheep can be grazed comfortably and maintain healthy pasture?
- How many sheep can be grazed and still cut & bale for winter feed?
- Retail cost of good quality churro fleece (from registered sheep?)? Roving? $$ Return per animal? Figure in cost to process.
- How many sheep/fleece (lbs) needed to break even on feed costs?
- Return on sale of lambs for breeding purposes (registered churros)?
- Return on leased pasture? How many sheep? Health issues and concerns?
- Make recommendations on what we need to do to make this farm self-sustaining, yet provide interpretive opportunities.
- Develop sheep breeding plan/ acquisition plan
Garden
- Identify garden plants (corn, vegetables, other) that would have been planted by the Hubbells (including historic varieties), dye plants, SW native plants
- Keep garden free of weeds
- Water regularly
- Pest mgt
- Develop & maintain compost piles using best practices
- Harvest
Fields
- Develop and oversee field irrigation & work with ditch rider on schedule
- Oversee weed removal to prevent reseeding and further spread
- Determine and oversee reseeding in terrace patches
- Make arrangements and oversee cutting and baling of hay & drying
- Develop and implement rotational grazing schedule for sheep to complement irrigation schedule
Animals
- Feed horses, chickens, cats, duck
- Make sure animals have clean water at all times
- Clean horse corral and sheep pen (use for compost)
- Monitor animal health and welfare and work with staff for vet services (ex: horse/sheep feet trimming, dentistry, vaccinations, etc)
- Shear sheep, skirt for processing
- Develop and maintain info on animals (using computer database): vaccinations, vet visits, pedigree…
Other
- Share information about farm with visitors
- Work with YCC and other local youth overseeing farm work
- Work with local community on educational opportunities
- Identify value added opportunities
Contact Info:
Please contact Anne Worthington at 928.755.3475 if you are interested or have questions.